| Tehan urges cruise booking confidence

AUSTRALIA’S Minister for Tourism Dan Tehan (pictured) has come out strongly in favour of a resumption of cruising, yesterday saying consumers should have no hesitation in making bookings.

During an interview on the Nine Network’s Today, Tehan was asked by host Karl Stefanovic whether or not Australians should feel safe taking up the plethora of cruise offers in the market, in the context of the Ruby Princess spread of COVID-19.

“The cruise industry has done a lot of work to make sure that cruising now is COVID-safe,” Tehan assured viewers.

“They’ve put protocols in place, so people should be confident to be able to go and book cruises.”

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz welcomed Tehan’s comments, telling Cruise Weekly “it’s really encouraging that the new Minister appreciates the important role that cruise can play in the tourism recovery”.

Katz noted cruise contributes more than $5 billion to the national economy and supports more than 18,000 jobs.

The CLIA local MD confirmed the Association had been working closely with Tehan’s office.

“We are continuing to work with the government to develop a pathway to a carefully managed, phased resumption of domestic cruising,” Katz said.

“Australia’s success in stemming community transmission creates an opportunity for ships to safely return to Australia with strict protocols and offer local cruising for locals, while international borders remain closed,” he added.

The Australian Government’s official Human Biosecurity Emergency Period, formally banning the entry of foreign-flagged cruise ships into Australian waters, is currently in place for about six more weeks, after being extended until 17 Mar by Minister for Health Greg Hunt (CW 09 Dec 2020).

However at the time he announced the extension, Hunt confirmed the government was working closely with the industry to “develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk”.